King of the Hill, ‘Cats, Hall come up big vs. Hilltoppers 35-28

Oak Ridge seniors made big plays down the stretch as the Wildcats defeated Science Hill 35-28 in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs.

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By Robert Holder

Oakridger - Oak Ridge, TN

By Robert Holder

Posted Nov. 2, 2012 at 10:59 PM
Updated Nov 6, 2012 at 7:18 PM

By Robert Holder

Posted Nov. 2, 2012 at 10:59 PM
Updated Nov 6, 2012 at 7:18 PM

OAK RIDGE

by Robert Holder

robert.holder@oakridger.com

When Oak Ridge quarterback Rian Hall reached over the goal line with 29.8 seconds left against Science Hill, the senior put the final mark on one of his and the senior class’ best games.

Oak Ridge defeated Science Hill 35-28 Friday in Round 1 of the Class 6A playoffs in a solid team effort to advance.

“I am so proud of our boys,” coach Scott Blade said. “What a great game. It was a great win for us, and I was glad to get it and move on.

“With the past few weeks, we’ve put up some points with some relative ease. Tonight, we had to work for everything; for every first down, for every yard. There is a reason they are 9-1 and a field goal at the end of the game away from 10-0.

“As far as the effort and the will to win, it was there and we will definitely build on that.”

Oak Ridge (10-1) got big plays from its biggest seniors from the opening drive, with completed passes to Jalen Miller and tone-setting runs by lineman/fullback Chris Ramse, to the final drive.

After Science Hill rattled off 14 points to tie the game at 28 with 3:38 left in the fourth quarter, Oak Ridge stayed calm and drove the ball 69 yards on nine plays and score Hall’s go-ahead touchdown.

“Toward the end, we weren’t going to be denied,” Hall said. “That last play I told coach Blade to give me the ball, and I wasn’t going to be denied to get into the end zone. And he gave it to me.

“I got in for my team, and they blocked it just right.”

The play could’ve never happened without the efforts of senior Robert Valdez. Two plays prior to the score on 4th-and-5 from the 35-yard line, Hall rolled out and found the 5-foot-8 receiver in traffic 13 yards down field to extend the drive.

“I thought they did a good job defending it,” coach Blade said of the Hilltoppers defense. “We just ran a flood route there and (Rian) threaded the needle and we got one when we needed it. Otherwise, we are in overtime.”

Valdez admitted he didn’t have the best of weeks against Campbell County — dropping three costly passes. But he was glad to make “the toughest catch of his career” with a Science Hill defender draped over him.

“I was open for like half a second, and I raised my hand up,” Valdez said. “We made eye contact, and I realized he was going to throw it because there were linemen all over him.

Page 2 of 3 - “I jumped for it and it stuck to my fingers, and I came down with it.”

The Wildcats began the game strong, scoring on a 1-yard run from Matt Moore on 4th-and-goal on their second possession.

After Science Hill (9-2) answered, Moore broke free for his second touchdown return in as many weeks, this time from 97 yards out, and Hall scored, after a Science Hill three-and-out, on a quarterback keeper from 32 yards out to make it 21-7.

But Hilltoppers quarterback Reed Hayes wouldn’t let his team go quietly. The nifty senior made play after play with his feet and his arm — engineering scoring drives of 15 and 11 plays in the fourth quarter.

“He’s fantastic,” Blade said of Hayes. “I knew he was.

“He extended all those plays with his legs. We had our best pass rushers in there and he made us look silly sometimes.”

Defensive end Ethan Grumski agreed, “I’d say I got broke 18 times before I learned my lesson that he’s going to spin outside. He was as slippery as crap through a goose as coach (Jim) Younger might say.”

After Hall’s late touchdown, Grumski sacked Hayes for the third time in the night after two early ones and put the Hilltoppers in 4th-and-15 from their own 27-yard line with 2.1 seconds left. Hayes’ pass fell harmlessly to the ground in the middle of the field and the game ended.

“The defense played really well against a good football team,” Blade emphasized. “That was a good game. Good hits, good offenses on both sides and an incredible game.”

Hall finished the night 13-of-23 passing for 147 yards and rushed for 168 yards on 26 carries and his two scores.

“He’s got incredible competitiveness and incredible drive in him and led us down the field,” Blade said of Hall. “He made huge plays for us all night.”

Moore finished with 91 yards on nine carries. He also caught three passes for 27 yards.

Ethan Wheeler was the leading receiver for Oak Ridge with six catches for 81 yards.

Hayes led Science Hill in rushing with 27 carries and 122 yards and two rushing touchdowns. He also threw for two scores on 15-of-34 passing and 205 yards.

Malik McGue had five catches for 116 yards and a score — a 41-yard touchdown on a 15-yard crossing pattern that tied the game at 28.

Oak Ridge now turns its sights on rival Maryville (11-0). The No. 1 ranked Rebels won convincingly against Hardin Valley 42-10 and are vying for their third straight Class 6A title.

Oak Ridge’s lone loss this season came at the hands of the Rebels in Week 5. Maryville defeated Oak Ridge 38-23 on the MyVLT Rivalry Thursday game. It was the closest any team came to defeating Maryville this season.

Page 3 of 3 - Kick off for the Rebels and the Wildcats will be at 7 p.m. at Maryville.